Men's First Light

No Gathering Wednesday Nov. 23rd

2011-11-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

Please note that we will not meet Wednesday morning, November 23rd, due to Thanksgiving! Give thanks and praise to God for the multitude of blessings that have been so richly poured out upon you! Be safe,
Dr. Fitz

Spiritual Classics

2011-09-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

We are currently working through the Richard Foster book, Spiritual Classics. There are 52 different works to read and discuss and all are welcome to join us at any point in the Wednesday morning 6:30 - 7:30 am gathering in the Church Parlour.

Chapter 8 June 15th

2011-06-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

We're on Chapter 8 this Wednesday, June 15th. Hope you are having a great beginning to your summer. Keep this group as a part of the blessings of summer!!

Chapter 3 next week

2011-04-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

We're back in Max Lucado's book, It's Not About Me, and will be reviewing chapter 3 next Wednesday morning (May 4th).
Steve

Lucado Books are in...

2011-04-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

The Max Lucado books are in and will be available this Sunday in my office. Please pick on up and read the first chapter before coming to Wednesday morning's gathering April 13th. They are $10 each!

New Book, Old Book

2011-04-04T06:14:00.000-07:00

Wow! We zipped right through Leonard Sweet's book, The Jesus Manifesto! I hope there were some nuggets of insight for all who participated in this reading and reflection. We have decided to study again the Max Lucado book, It's Not About Me. I have ordered more books and they will be in during the week of 4/4/11. Therefore, this Wednesday, April 6th, we will have a general devotion time that I will lead on a Lenten topic. Hopefully books will be in by the end of the week and if you don't have one, please call the church office by Friday to see if you can come and pick one up (or look for me next Sunday and pick one up).
Steve

New Life!

2011-04-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

I cannot describe to you the blessing of being able to be a part of the entire process of witnessing the birth of my first grandson Sunday morning at 1:20 a.m. My daughter and her husband allowed my wife and me to be in the room the entire time Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. Katy-Mac has been my little buddy ever since I danced around my inlaws house when she was born. She has been my surfing parnter for 10 years, not just my daughter. Each of my children hold special places and have given me unique glimpses of God, but for her and her husband to allow me to sit in a chair in the corner and witness Josh coaching Katy-Mac from 5 p.m. - 1:20 a.m. with tenderness, love and maturity, along with my wife by the other side, and especially through labor from 10 p.m. - 1:20 a.m. was an unforgettable experience. My role was support and prayer from the sidelines. I witnessed the first breath of spirit, wind, life (pneuma) taken by this little fellow (no name yet) and watched his daddy and mommy become jello! Both of them reduced to an emotional pool of glory. The light of God was extremely bright around that bed at that event. It was "breathtaking." And then... to top it off, I watched my little daughter holding him closely as he opened his eyes for the first time! Again, she was reduced to a puddle of jello, love overwhelming all else -- God! Extended family couldn't get enough of the blessing of this new life, each wanting an opportunity to hold God's gift to the world, God's imagination held in each ones arms. While holding such a small person of unique features, each ponders his or her own life, gift of breath, and opportunity for imaginative response to God's presence.
Never take one single breath for granted. They are limited within the journey of this world. In the past week I have celebrated new life, new breath and witnessed the passing of earthly breath back to the Lord, and I pray with dear friends who are struggling for breath with lungs full of fluid, pleuracy and pneumonia, and one who died. New life! Breath! Presence of love that reduces us to jello! We are blessed for the Spirit of God that gives new life in this world and in the world Jesus called heaven -- it is real and it is our final destination where there will be... NEW LIFE!

March 16th...

2011-03-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

We will focus on chapter 8, The Forgotten Tree, in Sweet's book, The Jesus Manifesto.

March 9th

2011-03-07T07:35:00.000-08:00

We're knocking out one chapter per week. This coming Wednesday, we will discuss Chapter 7, "A Collision of Two Empires." This will fit perfectly with my sermon focus for the first Sunday in Lent (Psalm 120).

Chapter 5 men...

2011-02-20T12:31:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning, Feb. 223rd, we will be focusing on Chapter 5 of Sweet's book! Read up and highlight what jumps out at you in this chapter and then be ready to discuss with the group!

Next Wednesday February 9th

2011-02-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

We will be focusing on Chapter 3 in Leonard Sweet's book, The Jesus Manifesto.

Wednesday morning Jan. 26th

2011-01-24T06:01:00.000-08:00

We only got to page 7 last week. Please read on through the first chapter. We're not going to move this slowly all the time, but it is necessary in the beginning of the book! It's supposed to be 62 degrees this Wednesday!!!!!

New Study for 2011

2011-01-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 12th, we will discuss the Introduction of our new study, Leonard Sweet's book, The Jesus Manifesto.

The Sacramental Life

2010-11-16T13:46:00.001-08:00

We are now moving into the final section of our "Devotional Classics" study. Here are the dates and author's:
November 17th: G.K. Chesterton: A Magical Universe
November 24th: Athanasius: Jesus Christ, the Image of God
December 1rst: Annie Dillard: To See Clearly
December 8th: Soren Kierkegaard: Praying to Will One Thing
December 15th: Dag Hammarskjold: To Say Yes
December 22nd: Kathleen Norris: Finding Faith in the Mundane
December 28th: WE WILL NOT MEET THIS MORNING
January 5th: Brother Lawrence: An Habitual Sense of God's Presence
I realize that we are in the season of travel, Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, keep the focus and center in God, in Christ, in the true Spirit that enables us to live an "incarnational life." The "sacraments" of the church (Baptist's call them ordinances), point to the spiritual meaning of physical sacraments/ordinances. As Foster and Smith note, "In living incarnationally (embodying our spirituality) we participate in the physical sacraments of the Church and live as God's people on earth, thus eliminating any material/spiritual dichotomy." (pg. 331)
Dr. Fitzgerald

The Word Centered Life

2010-09-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

We are now beginning a new section in our study, The Word Centered Life (The Evangelical Tradition). Here are the authors whose works we will study over the coming weeks:
Sept. 29th -- E Stanley Jones: The Habit of Reading the Bible Daily
Oct. 6th -- Sadhu Sundar Singh: Sharing the Joy with Others
Oct. 13th -- Francis of Assisi: A Harvest of Souls
Oct. 20th -- Madame Guyon: Praying the Scripture
Oct. 27th -- John Chrysostom: Sermon on Dying to Sin
Nov. 3rd -- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon on Revival
Nov. 10th -- Watchman Nee: Evangelism
As the author says, "The evangelical tradition has two foci: the centrality of Scripture and the importance of evangelism. In following this tradition, we are taking seriously both the Reformation call of Sola Sciptura (the Scripture alone) and the Pietist experience of "the warm heart," or conversion.

Compassionate Life is our new section

2010-08-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

We began a new section of our Devotional Classics this morning, August 4th, entitled: The Compassionate Life. As the author, Richard Foster points out, the compassionate life is a trumpet call to a freely gathered people who seek the total transformation of persons, institutions, and societies. In this section we will focus on the following authors:
William Temple, August 4th
John Woolman, Aug. 11th
Hannah Whitall Smith, Aug. 18th,
Jeremy Taylor, Aug. 25th,
Elizabeth O'Conner, Sept. 1rst,
John Wesley, Sept. 8th,
Catherine of Siena, Sept. 15th,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Sept. 22nd.

We are currently in the Spirit-Empowered Life

2010-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

section of our study. Here's a list of upcoming dates and focal writers:
June 30th: George Fox -- Walking in the Power of God
July 7: Ignatius of Loyola -- Movements Produced in the Soul
July 14: Jean-Pierre de Causade -- The Present Moment
July 21: Isaac Penington -- Waiting for Breathings from His Spirit
July 28: John Bunyan -- Exercising the Gift

April 14, 21 and 28th

2010-04-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

will focus on Frank Laubach (Opening Windows to God) on April 14th; John Baillie (Morning Prayers) on April 21; and Martin Luther (Praying in Faith) on Wednesday morning April 28th.

Moving onto the next section

2010-02-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

We have now finished the first section of Devotional Classics, "Preparing for the Spiritual Life," and are moving into the section on "The Prayer-Filled Life (The Contemplative Tradition). We'll study and discuss works by Thomas Merton, Julian of Norwich, Henri J. M. Nouwen, George Buttrick, Evelyn Underhill, Frank Laubach, John Baillie and Martin Luther.

2010 Focus

2010-01-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

We began this year by studying and discussing Devotional Classics (revised edition) by Richard Foster. This Wednesday, January 27th, we will be discussing St. John of the Cross (pp. 33-40). Our group contines to grow and please feel invited to join us from 6:30 - 7:30 am in the church parlour. You don't have to make every gathering for this to benefit you greatly as we deepen our relationship with God and each other.

New Wednesday Morning focus...

2009-12-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

Wow, did we whip through the Kalas book on the Thirteen Apostles. It was an enlightening book for discussion and reflection. Thanks to Dr. Terry Hall for suggesting this book. We will begin discussion of the next book or focus at our next gathering. In the meantime, I will be leading the Winter Bible Study on the Book of Acts. Furthermore, beginning the second Sunday of January, I'll begin preaching through the Ten Commandments. I have a voluminous amount of material for both of these endeavors. Therefore, one option for Wednesday mornings would be to delve into more discussion and connecting the material to our daily lives during our gatherings. I'm kind of in favor of that, especially since I won't have to add a third new focus on top of those two in depth studies that I'll be immersed in!!!
Dr. Fitzgerald

Wednesday morning Sept. 23rd

2009-09-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Please read Chapter 3 for this coming Wednesday. Please remember Bump as he awaits results from successful biopsy done Friday.

New Book Started...

2009-09-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

We finally began a new book on The Thirteen Apostles. I have more books available for those who were not at last Wednesday's gathering. The book is $12 & the money needs to be given to me, or Sandy, if by check: make check out to the church. We talked about chapter one last week: Andrew. Please read chapter two for this coming week.

New Study to Begin

2009-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Wow! We finally worked our way through the "Minor Prophets." Their message was a lived one, what some call an "incarnational" message or word. As the Word became flesh in Jesus, so did the proclamation of the minor Prophets become combined with their very lifestyles.
Our new study will begin when we receive all of the books that we ordered, The Thirteen Apostles, by J. Ellsworth Kalas. We will cover some general subjects or topics until the books arrive and are distributed.

Finally... Finishing the Minor Prophets

2009-08-19T11:21:00.001-07:00

Next Wednesday, August 26th, we should finish discussing Malachi by reviewing the 4th chapter. Be prepared to discuss where we go from here. What would be of interest to you? What are our cultural, spiritual, familial challenges right now? What are our church challenges? Let's discuss some of these as we seek a book or study that is relevant to our day, time and needs.

Malachi

2009-07-29T13:13:00.001-07:00

We are just about to finish studying the Minor Prophets. We began reviewing Malachi on July 22nd. Please read through Malachi 2:9 before Wednesday August 5th. We discussed the major theme of the book according to 1:2-5. That passage states that the prophet is calling the oepole to rebuild themselves and their society, with the assurance that God will support their actions and will not frustrate their work. God loves them and gives them the ability to rebuild their own world, with his blessings!
Outline
1:1-5
Undeniable Love:
God’s Love for Israel
1:6-14
Unacceptable Sacrifices:
Corrupt Offerings by Corrupt Priests
2:1-9
Unkept Obligations:
Priests neglect the Covenant
2:10-16
Untrue Husbands:
Rebuke for Idolatry and Divorce
2:17-3:6
Unexpected Judgment:
The Coming of the Lord
3:7-12
Unmeasured Blessing:
God’s Promise if Tithes are Forthcoming
3:13-4:3
Unwarranted Assertion:
Sure Meting Out of Justice
4:4-6
Unforgettable Farewell:
An Admonition, a Promise, a Threat

Zechariah

2009-06-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday, June 10, 2009, we will continue on in Zechariah beginning with chapter 5. Please read chapters 5 - 7 and we will meet inside for those of you who got sticky sitting in the garden. It was still nice to do that at least once (in a while). Next time I'll prewarn you when we're thinking about doing that!

Haggai

2009-04-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

Please read Haggai before coming to this weeks First Light class. We'll cover this short book in the next few weeks.

Next Wednesday March 35th 2009

2009-03-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday we detoured from the minor prophets in order to have a healing service for our own Wade Fuller. Keep Wade and his family in your prayers as he undergoes further testing to determine next steps. Wednesday March 25th we will discuss Zephaniah 2. Read that chapter in preparation for our gathering.

Zephaniah, The Angry Prophet!

2009-02-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Zephaniah is our next book of the Minor Prophets that we'll be studying. Please read this short three chapter book & we'll begin discussion on Wednesday March 4th about this prophet. Click on the title above to view an eight minute video presentation of this book. Be thinking about the reasons that we get angry with God, with others, with ourselves. We will talk about how that connects to what Zephaniah may have been going through!

Habakkuk

2009-02-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

Please read the third chapter of Habakkuk for this Wednesday morning's Bible Study. Have you ever prayed a prayer like this? Focus on verses 17 - 19: Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the live fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places..." Can you sing this song of prayer and praise in spite of what comes your way? I am sure trying!
Dr. Fitz

Wednesday Morning January 28th

2009-01-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

Please read Nahum chapter 3 as we conclude our study on this minor prophet.

For Wednesday Jan. 14th, 2009

2009-01-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

It was great being back together with all of you men this morning. Please read Nahum 2 for next week's discussion.
Steve

2008-12-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

We WILL NOT BE MEETING ON CHRISTMAS EVE morning. Please read Nahum chapter 1 & we'll not meet again until Wednesday morning January 7th, 2009!!!
God bless & Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Steve

Nahum

2008-12-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

Please read the short book of Nahum and revisit the picture of Nineveh below.
Nahum prophesied, according to some, in the beginning of the reign of Ahaz (B.C. 743). Others, however, think that his prophecies are to be referred to the latter half of the reign of Hezekiah (about B.C. 709). This is the more probable opinion, internal evidences leading to that conclusion. Probably the book was written in Jerusalem (soon after B.C. 709), where he witnessed the invasion of Sennacherib and the destruction of his host (2 Kings 19:35).
The subject of this prophecy is the approaching complete and final destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the great and at that time flourishing Assyrian empire. Assur-bani-pal was at the height of his glory. Nineveh was a city of vast extent, and was then the centre of the civilzation and commerce of the world, a “bloody city all full of lies and robbery” (Nah. 3:1), for it had robbed and plundered all the neighbouring nations. It was strongly fortified on every side, bidding defiance to every enemy; yet it was to be utterly destroyed as a punishment for the great wickedness of its inhabitants.
Jonah had already uttered his message of warning, and Nahum was followed by Zephaniah, who also predicted (Zeph. 2:4-15) the destruction of the city, predictions which were remarkably fulfilled (B.C. 625) when Nineveh was destroyed apparently by fire, and the Assyrian empire came to an end, an event which changed the face of Asia. (See NINEVEH.)

Micah

2008-12-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

The next lesson will be on Wednesday December 10th. Our focus that morning will be on Micah 6:1-8 (one of Dr. Overby's favorite Bible verses is in this. Which one?).
Things to think about as you meditate on this passage in Micah:

What are some ways you can practice doing what is fair, or just? Who needs justice?
Do you know anyone who shows that they love kindness? Who and how? What difference does it make?
How does your walking with God make you humble?
Steve

Wednesday October 15, 2008

2008-10-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of what Nineveh might have looked like in 700 BC.

Please read Jonah 4 before this Wednesday gathering. We'll be reflecting on Jonah's anger, his deep desire to see his enemy punished, while he seems fine accepting forgiveness for himself! How typical! What is the bush in your life? What might your reaction be if you were to lose your "bush?" Have the economic events of the past few weeks challenged your sense of comfort? even as others existence has been threatened for years?

Jonah Chapter 3 and 4

2008-10-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Wednesday October 8th and 15th we will discuss chapters 3 and 4 in Jonah. Please be reading and meditating on these two chapters as we discuss how God's interaction with Jonah, Nineveh and creation speak to us today.

Jonah chapter 2 questions for consideration

2008-09-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Questions regarding Jonah Chapter 2:
In this chapter we see the themes of descent and ascent. These connect to the correlation between death and life contending for control, as well as the struggle between God (Yahweh) and Jonah. Where do we see these forces contending for power and control today (death and descent over life and ascent)?
Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Descent! What does this immediately remind you of? In Jonah 3:3 we'll see that Jonah had to walk for three days to get from one side of Nineveh to the other. If "three days" conveys a great distance, "three days and three nights" conveys a longer time! The belly of the great fish and three days in the evil city of Nineveh connect with descent. Remember that Paul prayed "three times" for God to deliver him from his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:8).
It is interesting that when Jonah prays to Yahweh from within the "mother' fish (v. 7), Jonah appropriately moves from death to life. How does prayer effect this for us? For others? What does this say about God's desire for relationship with us?
Jonah's predicament causes his prayer to God. In turn, the prayer causes God to speak to the fish with the effect that the fish vomits Jonah onto dry land. Embedded in the belly of the fish, unpredictable Jonah prays. Is it OK for people to pray for God's deliverance when they get in a predicament that they cannot extricate themselves from? Why is it that some might feel the answer to this is "No!"
In a situation of dire calamity, he prays not a lament (complaining and grieving) or complaint song asking to be delivered form danger (as the sailors did in 1:14)' instead he prays a psalm of thanksgiving asserting that he has already been delivered. What does this tell us about the power and possibilities available through prayer and faith?
The journey begun when Jonah went down to Joppa (1:3) and continued when he went down into the ship (1:3) and down into the innards of the ship (1:5). Yet the present setting of water, the deep, weeds, and mountains is strangely incongruent with the belly of a great fish. There is then the great reversal. The evil of Nineveh has already "come up" before God (1:2), a plant yet to be appointed will "come up" to shade Jonah (4:6). Jonah emerges from the pit! God is clearly in the business of "bringing up." What are things that we don't want to "bring up?" Are there topics in your family that you're afraid to "bring up?" Why? Can you "bring up" issues as you deem it appropriate to find those involved in those specific issues that need to be "brought up" into God's love, presence, and healing? Are there things going on in our church right now that are should not be brought up? Why? What should be brought up? Why? What are we trying to "bring up" in spite of increased anxiety and stress? (new nontraditional worship service)
In spite of Jonah being self-centered (vv. 8-9) with his counterfeit piety, deliverance belongs to God! Who are we to determine who and how God seeks to deliver others?

Wednesday July 23, 2008

2008-07-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

We have now finished our study and discussion on the book of Amos. Please read through the book of Joel as we will begin our study of this book Wednesday July 23rd.
Steve

Wednesday July 16, 2008 gathering

2008-07-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

Amos 9:1-15
"I will plant My people on their land. And they will never again be pulled up from the land I gave them," says the Lord your God." Amos 9:15
Amos 1 - 6: Amos speaks
Amos 7-9: God speaks
Discuss how Google Earth zooms in on a specific location. How does this resemble what God does with us?
Amos 9:1-4: List the places where Israel might try to hide from God. Is this possible? Why or why not?
Amos 9:5-8a: Why is there on place to hide from God? Why was God so angry with Israel? What sins did God talk about? (consider Israel's treatment of the poor)
Amos 9:8b-15: Read this outloud and look for ways that God helps His people if they turn to Him.

Wednesday July 2nd Focus

2008-06-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Amos 7:7-17
"So now hear the Word of the Lord..." (Amos 7:16)

Research what a "plumb line" is.
What is the Christian's plumb line for living right?
Today's lesson deals with the dreams/visions of Amos. In 7:1-3 what did God show Amos? What did Amos do after he was the vision? What did God do?
Read Amos 7:4-6. What did Amos do after he saw this vision? What did God do?
Read Amos 7:7-9. What was the dream? What did Amos do this time? What was the purpose of the string (the plumb line) God said He was going to use? Amos may have remained silent because he knew that Israel had not obeyed God. He knew the people would not measure up to God's test. God said, "I will not change My mind again about punishing them" (v. 8).
Read Amos 7:10-17. Look at what Amaziah said & compare it with what Amos said. Amaziah was the priest at Bethel. Bethel was a city with a temple built by Jeroboam I. King Jeroboam II had appointed Amaziah to the job of priest. Because he had received his job from the king, it is possible that Amaziah was more loyal to the king than he was to God. Amos was loyal to God.
Imagine what Amaziah would have said in his messages if he had believed what Amos was saying. How might Amos have spoken to Amaziah if Amos had been afraid and not sure that he was speaking for God?
Listen to what God is saying to you this week and measure your life by what God wants and not what others say.

Amos

2008-05-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

We finished the book of Hosea this morning at Dr. Overby's house with a grand view of sunrise over the river and followed by a delectable delight cooked up by Gretchen. I was impressed by the depth of your grasp of the overall book of Hosea. I learned much by going through this with you.
We now move on to study Amos (check out the YouTube video for a fun overview produced by some youth). Please read through the book before next Wednesday morning (June 4th). Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa. This prophet’s name means “burden bearer.” His message to Israel was again one of judgment, first to countries around Israel and then to Israel. Amos was the contemporary of Hosea, as well as Joel and Isaiah. Though he lived in the southern part of Judah, he was called to go to the northern kingdom. The northern kingdom about this time had won a war and had lots of money. Here's an outline of our intended focus in this book:

Lesson 1: A Message for You Amos 2:4-16
Lesson 2: Judgment on Wrongdoing Amos 3:9-4:3; 5:10-15; 6:4-7; 8:4-6
Lesson 3: Judgment on Pretend Worship Amos 4:4-5; 5:18-24
Lesson 4: Israel Will Not Listen to God Amos 7:7-17
Lesson 5: Certain Judgment—and Hope Amos 9:1-15

Hosea 14:1-9

2008-05-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

A God who judges & brings back to Himself

Read Hosea 14:1-9

You have to understand the signs in order to obtain a valid NC Drivers License today. Why is it important to understand road signs?

What happens when we, or others, disobey or ignore road signs?

What were some signs that Israel should have recognized, and obeyed?

How was Israel going the "wrong way?" Refer to Hosea 11:12 - 12:14 as well as Hosea 13.

What does "repentance" mean? What is on the news indicating that we, as a country, need to repent and turn in a new direction? physically, mentally & spiritually? How about as a church? as families?

Are there even church activities that we can get involved in that become a substitute for true repentance? How might that happen?

Read Hosea 14:4-5: What three pictures of God are revealed here?

Read Hosea 14:5-8: What did God say He would do if Israel repented?

Read Hosea 14:9: God says, "I do not relate with you through the false worship of idols and being busy at empty religion. I speak with you and I look after you and I am faithful to you directly by My Spirit to your spirit. Your ability to have faith in Me is a gift of Mine. If you are wise, you understand what I am saying. You can tell what I mean with your spirit. You know my ways are right to live and you know how to live by my Laws. You also know that to live any other way will cause your whole life to fall and stumble."

Discuss this paraphrased verse for further insights and considerations from the group.

Wednesday May 7th, 2008

2008-05-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday we'll continue focusing on Hosea 11:1-11. Consider these questions regarding Hosea 11:1-4:

1. What is a favorite family event in your life (describe it as if describing a picture)

2. What pictures can we find of God in Hosea 11:1-4?

3. What stories of reconciliation from our day & time come to your mind when you think of Hos. 11:1-4?

Concerning Hosea 11:5-7:

1. How do we feel about consequences related to sins of others in our world today?

2. How do we feel about consequences related to our own individual sins? our collective sins as a church? community? state? nation?

3. How do you think the younger generation feels about negative consequences to their own actions? How about the older generation?

Concerning Hosea 11:8-11:

This passage tells what God really felt about Israel. Look at Hosea 11:9. God said:

I will not do anything in My burning anger.

I will not destroy again.

I will not do anything in anger.

1. Have you ever acted in the midst of burning anger? How did things turn out, for you? for others? Have you developed this as a pattern of behavior, or learned from it?

2. Can you think of some whose goals it has been to intentionally destroy others out of anger? Physically? Mentally? Spiritually? Is this being done in this day & time?

3. Is it ever good to do anything out of anger? Why or why not?

4. How can our church show that God hates the sin but always loves the sinner and is willing to help to restore a faithful relationship?

Wednesday April 23rd focus

2008-04-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

We had a great prayer time and discussion this morning focused on Hosea 4:1-12 and 8:1-10,14. Here are some questions to be considering before next Wednesday, April 23rd:

What does faithful mean?

What biblical characters come to mind when you think of faithful ones?

What are some people from our world today that demonstrate faithfulness?

What are some of the major roadblocks to us trying to practice faithfulness within our homes, workplaces and even churches in this day and time?

How was Hosea faithful?

Consider these four complaints from God against Israel and why they were valid complaints. Where would we fall in God's judgment on these same concerns today?

You do not know me

Your land is a land of crime. There is lying and murder and staling and adultery. You have no respect for My laws and teachings.

You are killing the land, the animals, the birds, and the fish that I made.

You are playing religious games with my truth.

What did Israel do to bring these complaints? What are we doing to bring these same complaints from God in this day and time? What do you believe are some reasons people come to church today?

Wednesday April 9th focus

2008-04-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Please note that we'll have a visitor Wednesday morning, April 9th, leading our Wednesday morning Men's First Light group. Victor, a friend of Wade Fuller's, is an evangelist in India. Victor will share with us about his ministry: blessings, challenges, hopes and fears! Be there if you can. Also read Hosea 4:1-12 and 8:1-14 for the next Wednesday morning, April 16th, discussion.
Steve

April 2nd focus

2008-03-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

Continue to read and meditate on Hosea chapters 1 through 3:5. Consider section seven "7" in the study guide (pg. 30), which you can access by clicking on the link at the bottom of this site.
Work on this memory verse:

“...I will put an end to
the bow, the sword,
and war in all the
land. And I will let
My people lie down in
peace and be safe.”
—Hosea 2: 18

Thanks for all the participation and we're working on securing a date to visit Harker's Island as a group.
See you all next Wednesday morning!!
Steve

2008-03-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

As we think about "SPIRITUAL ADULTERY," what are some of the things in this world that get placed "higher than God?"

2008-03-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

What kind of metaphor would your family be for our relationship to God? How about the governor of New York (former and now current)?